The "Vicious Cycle of Panic" - Panic Disorders Message Board

fm5 · 09-13-2003, 09:32 AM

When I first started having panic attacks I thought it was health related for many months. And, I am sure there probably are a few "health related" reasons for panic attacks, such as people who have mitral valve prolapse or hypoglycemia. (I would imagine that the few "health related" panic attackers probably only constitute maybe 5-10% of the reason for panic disorder in some people.)

Panic disorder I believe is caused mainly by the following course of events:

1. The person goes through a major "life changing" situation in their lives - this could be anything from someone moving out of their parent's house and going off to college, a death of a spouse, a pregnancy, a major surgery, loss of a job, etc.

2. The person then has physical symptoms caused by the anxiety. They could be dizziness, shortness of breath, weakness, etc.

3. Because they have these physical symptoms they then begin to think that (1) they are going to pass out (2) they are going to die, or (3) they are going to have a heart attack or some other physical ailment. The person then panics from these symptoms - which throws more stress ontop of already high stress. At this point the person is so totally confused by the state they are in and feel that they have never felt like this before. But, in actuality, they probably have never been under that tremendous stress before.

(So, essentially, it is a vicious cycle. You have symptoms because you panic and then you panic because you have the symptoms.)

How do you get out of the cycle? By stopping it before it reaches the third level. How do you stop it from reaching the 3rd level? One powerful way is by using distracting techqniques. When you feel yourself start concentrating on your physical symptoms FORCE your mind to focus on something else, i.e, count the tiles on the floor or walls, think of fruits starting with the letters a, b, c, such as "a"(apples). Do a "find a word" puzzle, etc. You will find (like I did) that you will do this automatically after a while to bring your panic down.

The sooner that you begin to realize that panic is not caused by a physical illness, the faster you will get better.

[This message has been edited by fm5 (edited 09-13-2003).]

fm5 · 09-13-2003, 09:51 AM

One other thing I want to mention. Panic disorder doesn't necessarily have to begin right at the time of a "life changing" event. An example of this would be somebody who starts suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome many months after they returned from a war where they saw tragic events take place, or say, someone who has suffered from horrific abuse.

I believe this is because the person is just basically "struggling to stay alive" in these situations when they take place, and don't have the time to even think about the abuse while it is taking place, but do so later.

Graciecat · 09-13-2003, 10:49 AM

First of all, let me start off by saying that I'm NOT trying to start an argument, or even disageeing with you.
I just wanted to say, that for some people...me included.. there was no "life changing" event, ever.

I grew up with parents who were like Carol and Mike Brady, they never had a fight.
Maybe just a few disagreements, but nothing major.
They never spanked us, never raised their voices to us.
I guess I had what you could call a "Storybook" childhood.

I think for me, and a lot of other people it's brought on because one of your parents, or a close family member also suffered with it.
In my case it was my Mother and my Grandfather.
My Doctor did tell me that it can run in families, but not everyone who has a family member with panic disorder, will get it themselves.

Like I said, not trying to argue or even disagree.
Just wanted to give another opinion.

fm5 · 09-13-2003, 01:06 PM

I am just saying typically there is a life changing event that normally spurs panic disorder on. Most of the literature supports this too. In fact, the "life changing event" doesn't even normally have to be in a negative sense - it can just be a change of circumstances such as getting married or moving into a brand new area (I knew many people who this happened to.)

I also want want to add that the "life changing event" sometimes doesn't even have to be on a conscious level or even at a time when the person is going through major changes in their life. An example of this would be a teen in highschool who is anticipating (even if on a subconscious level) all the upcoming changes demanded of them in their life - such as moving out of their homes, going to college, planning a life's career, etc.

I also NEVER mentioned that people who have panic disorder come from bad families. In fact, what I said was some people with post traumatic stress sydrome have suffered horrific abuse - which could come from any number of causes not even related to their families. I mentioned post traumatic stress disorder become SOME people who have it also have panic disorder.

Sorry, if there was any misunderstanding.

[This message has been edited by fm5 (edited 09-13-2003).]

Graciecat · 09-13-2003, 01:36 PM

And I NEVER said that you said people with panic disorder come from bad families.
I was only trying to say that I didn't have any kind of "life changing" event and that I never experianced any kind of abuse, from family or otherwise.
I believe I have it because my Mom and Grandfather did.
That's ALL I was saying.
In fact I started my post saying I didn't want to argue with or disagree with you, I was just giving my point of view, which frankly I'm sorry now that I did.

[This message has been edited by Graciecat (edited 09-13-2003).]